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Round 1: Leafs @ Bruins

leaffan2005 said:
What would make people pick the Leafs to win?

Boston has been the better team all year and have home ice. They are definitely the favorites. Not sure what people were expecting. Could we win? Sure, and it wouldn't be a huge shocker. But going into the series they are definitely the favorites, and media members typically don't take many chances with their predictions.

If anything this helps us. We may actually be a bigger underdog this year compared to last.
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The Leafs need to start by winning a game in Boston, Game 1 would be perfect. Grind out a low scoring game, and win it on a powerplay goal. Perfect.
 
Not surprised. They actually got 1 or 2 more votes from analysts on Sportsnet than I expected (And of course, Mark Spector is the guy who thinks it'll be the quickest series).
I don't think the media guys can even pick the Leafs ever without being destroyed for being "Homers".
 
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We have a tough time picking a Leafs series. Bias, homerism, whatever it is, it's tough to be realistic.

We have to realize that it is the same with reporters. In fact it's tougher for them. They may hate the Leafs (or love), they have to look partial, they have to make sure they get clicks, they have to be worried about being wrong, etc.
 
The issue I have is spending all the time on the Leafs faults, and ignoring anything negative about the Bruins. I am fine with Bruins being picked. It's the actual conversations about the series that actually feels a little biased.

And littterally the Jets struggles mean NOTHING to the media. They will simply turn it on at the right time.
 
JackBurton said:
The issue I have is spending all the time on the Leafs faults, and ignoring anything negative about the Bruins. I am fine with Bruins being picked.
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That's because we are in Canada and Toronto specifically. The Leafs and their shortcomings will be brought up more here than in other cities. Do you think the media in Boston is not talking about their team's faults? You think they are already assuming the Bruins will walk all over the Leafs?

People just get frustrated here because the team is talked about so much. Sure they could be more positive about the team but to be honest the Leafs haven't played well in a few months now and this kind of prediction is perfectly warranted given the situation.
 
leaffan2005 said:
That's because we are in Canada and Toronto specifically. The Leafs and their shortcomings will be brought up more here than in other cities. Do you think the media in Boston is not talking about their team's faults? You think they are already assuming the Bruins will walk all over the Leafs?

People just get frustrated here because the team is talked about so much. Sure they could be more positive about the team but to be honest the Leafs haven't played well in a few months now and this kind of prediction is perfectly warranted given the situation.
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If we talk about the "National Media", the Leafs faults are brought up more than any other team though. It's not just the local guys. Even many in the U.S media are doing it.
 
To be fair, only 8 of 22 picked the Jets, which is kind of a similar situation. They're picking the hotter second half team over the team that kind of limped in.

Not saying it's necessarily right but I can understand it, and at least they're consistent.
 
It's a an extremely close series, but the narratives have spun out of control. Bruins are being described as nearly flawless and the leafs as fatally flawed.

Last year the leafs' chances in the 1st round were considered much better than this year, which is just silly. Other than backup goaltending, the Bruins have been worse than last year and the leafs better.
 
Ya the narrative is a different story.

The amount of times that I've heard things like "Andersen is going to have to be lights out for the Leafs to have ANY chance." Over the last few days is shocking.

It's basically become our only chance will be if Freddy steals the series. And make no mistake - if we win, even if Freddy just matches Boston's goalies, that will be the story the media runs with. It will be the only thing that allows them to save face.
 
You add a John Tavares and that changes the entire series. Leafs added him July 1st, so it feels like old news I guess. But I always said Matthews/Tavares/Kadri is too much down the middle. The matchups will be really tough against them.
Last year Matthews had 2 point sin 7 games and Naz was suspended for 3 games. We are in a different situation this year and the Bruins know it.

The entire "Hot Streak" going into the playoffs bit is rather worthless. So many good teams struggled down the stretch.
 
WellPlayed said:
Ya the narrative is a different story.

The amount of times that I've heard things like "Andersen is going to have to be lights out for the Leafs to have ANY chance." Over the last few days is shocking.

It's basically become our only chance will be if Freddy steals the series. And make no mistake - if we win, even if Freddy just matches Boston's goalies, that will be the story the media runs with. It will be the only thing that allows them to save face.
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Has anyone ever in the media mentioned Andersen's save % from last year? He cost the Leafs the series.
 
WellPlayed said:
Ya the narrative is a different story.

The amount of times that I've heard things like "Andersen is going to have to be lights out for the Leafs to have ANY chance." Over the last few days is shocking.

It's basically become our only chance will be if Freddy steals the series. And make no mistake - if we win, even if Freddy just matches Boston's goalies, that will be the story the media runs with. It will be the only thing that allows them to save face.
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Boston gives up less goals than the Leafs. So it would stand to reason that our goaltending would need to be a bigger part of our chances to win. Again, not sure what the issue is with this kind of narrative.
 
JackBurton said:
You add a John Tavares and that changes the entire series. Leafs added him July 1st, so it feels like old news I guess. But I always said Matthews/Tavares/Kadri is too much down the middle. The matchups will be really tough against them.
Last year Matthews had 2 point sin 7 games and Naz was suspended for 3 games. We are in a different situation this year and the Bruins know it.

The entire "Hot Streak" going into the playoffs bit is rather worthless. So many good teams struggled down the stretch.
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How about in the last 3-4 months leading into the playoffs?
 
leaffan2005 said:
Boston gives up less goals than the Leafs. So it would stand to reason that our goaltending would need to be a bigger part of our chances to win. Again, not sure what the issue is with this kind of narrative.
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Rask's Numbers since March 1st are not being mentioned. Freddie' s numbers are.

Leafs goalie is struggling. Rask is left alone. That's one of the narratives I have issue with.
 
leaffan2005 said:
Boston gives up less goals than the Leafs. So it would stand to reason that our goaltending would need to be a bigger part of our chances to win. Again, not sure what the issue is with this kind of narrative.
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And the Leafs scored more goals than Boston. About the same amount as Boston's advantage in GA, actually.

So by that reasoning, if the goalies play equally well, the series should be a toss up.

So how exactly is the narrative "Andersen will have to be lights out for the Leafs to have ANY chance" accurate?
 
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